Three student teams from University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), and De La Salle University (DLSU) proved that they were the finest among competing teams in the Galing ng Pinoy 2: Shell Case Study Competition sponsored by the Shell Philippines Recruitment team last March.

It was a battle of wits as eleven teams from five universities across Metro Manila tried their luck in solving Shell global cases based on actual events in the energy industry.

“The Shell Case Study Competition was really a way for us to see what happens inside a business. It was an opportunity for us to use and develop our skills even further,” said UPD Team Leader Tyrone Syling, technical case team winner, as he acknowledged the initiative for offering a technical case study aside from the usual business cases

With the aim of upskilling these young bright minds, the competition brought to the table some of the most pressing concerns that the Shell Technical and Commercial professionals address. The teams were given only an hour and fifteen to solve either a business or technical case and present an innovative solution for it.

ADMU Team Leader Juancho Jimenez, business case team winner, shared how challenging but worthwhile his experience was, “I think the time pressure was value adding in a way, because each of us held our own roles when the time was running out.”

Aside from the technical and business case team winners, a special All-Women Competitors’ Category – in line with Shell’s celebration of Women’s Month and a part of its Diversity and Inclusion Agenda, recognised and awarded the DLSU Pearls for being the top scoring all-women’s team in the competition.

More than just rewards and recognition

Shortly after the competition, the student teams were invited for a meet-and-greet with a few notable leaders from Shell companies in the Philippines.

No other than Shell companies in the Philippines Country Chairman Edgar Chua personally congratulated the winning teams and responded to their queries about the various CSRs and advocacies the company upholds.

"We are more than just an oil and gas company,” Chua explains, “We see ourselves as an energy company. We are in the business not just to make profits, but to be a part of nation building.”

As Shell continues to invest in delivering more energy to build a sustainable energy future, Shell continues to provide support to programs that promote youth development. Aside from Shell’s focus on environmental management and protection, developing new energy sources, promoting road safety and awareness, and smarter mobility collaboration among others, launching competitions like the Galing ng Pinoy 2 is one of Shell’s innovative methods in developing the potentials of Filipino youths to become productive individuals and shape them to become future leaders.

Chua also shared with the students the company’s edge against its competitors across the globe – its people. “We have this saying that people make the difference real. People are really the most important. That is why we invest a lot in our people,” he said.

As Shell considers its people as its most important asset, Shell leaders supporting the company’s Women’s Network enlightened the students on the company’s initiatives to promote inclusiveness in the workplace particularly in pushing gender parity throughout the organisation.

Shell companies in the Philippines Finance Lead & VP for Global Expenditure Joan Lynch gave the students a briefer about the companies’ aspiration to have at least 20% of women in senior leadership positions by 2018. According to Lynch, the company is currently at 19%.

“We do try to treat everyone equally and give them equal opportunities regardless of their cultural background, race, and gender,” Lynch said.

On top of that, Shell Regional Policy Advisor for Asia Pacific Regina Lejano made it clear to the students that female aspiring employees are given equal treatment with those of the male aspiring employees.

“Gone are the days where we had hesitations in employing female engineers or female territory managers,” Lejano said. “We look past their gender, and focus on their capability in being able to deliver the job,” she ended.

Taking home with them so much more than just the reward and recognition, the students were very grateful for the opportunity to know more about the company and the leaders who work behind it, as well as the chance for them to shape their personal skills and talents.

The Galing ng Pinoy 2: Shell Case Study Competition is similar to its predecessor, Shell Ideas 360: Galing ng Pinoy Challenge. This year’s competition brought the brightest young Filipino students together and tested their acuity in proposing solutions to various Shell technical and business cases last March 5 at Manila Hotel during the 2016 Shell Eco-marathon Asia student-mileage competition. ###